Artist Trading Block - Journey

I have officially been bitten by the Artist Trading Block bug! If you haven't heard of ATBs, they are altered art blocks created using Eileen Hull's Block dies from Sizzix. [UPDATE! Inspiration Emporium now has these dies in stock. Check out the links below to purchase one!] The beauty of them is that they are merely a vehicle for your imagination. Anything goes - no matter your style. They can be grungy, pretty, scrapbook-y, and anything else you can think of. How fun is that?!

I was originally going to do something soft and spring-y, but I had just opened a few new Archival inks from Wendy Vecchi, and I was dying to see how they would look on chipboard. I am officially in love with these inks now! The colors are incredible and, because they're permanent inks, the color will retain its intensity for a long time.

Once I started working on my block, the ideas just kept flowing. I had to stop myself from going overboard with the embellishments. I really wanted the colors and the stamping to be the stars of the show. I used some of my favorite rubber stamps from Artistic Outpost and lots of embellishments from Tim Holtz/idea-ology.

While I was working, I took a few pics so you could see how the whole thing went together. I hope you enjoy this quick tute and are inspired to make some blocks of your own!

Cut two box panels from medium to heavyweight chipboard. Ink with various colors of Archival ink.

Stamp images onto a manila tag or cardstock using Jet Black Archival ink. Color with Distress ink and markers.

Stamp gear image on each panel using Jet Black Archival ink.

To create wheels for the box, die cut chipboard using Tim Holtz's Bottlecap die. Separate the outer ridged edge, saving the round center. Cut a Mini Gear from chipboard.

Finish the wheels by painting the circle black and the gear silver. Glue together and punch a hole through the center. Cut a piece of dowel to size and paint black. (BTW, don't these totally look like Tinker Toys? I used to love those things!).

To finish the box, assemble the panels according to the instructions. Adhere embellishments as shown. For the top, I die cut gears from chipboard and painted them with Distress paints and then added a Curio Knob to the center. The wheels are glued directly to the box (they don't turn). To finish them off, I added a little knob from Prima Clock Parts.

The little man on this side is raised up with foam dots. A hole was punch in his hand so that he can hold the jump ring on a Swivel Clasp that is attached to a Clock Key.

All of the supplies I used, other than the 3D Box die, can be found at Inspiration Emporium. Remember to use my discount code - stamptramp - to save 10% off your order.

Sizzix 3D Block Die Artistic Outpost - Industrial Backgrounds Artistic Outpost SteamPunk Sizzix Gadget Gears Sizzix Mini Gears Set Sizzix Mini Bottlecap and Stamp Idea-ology Word Bands Idea-ology Swivel Clasps idea-ology Compass Coins idea-ology Clock Keys Idea-ology Sprocket Gears idea-ology Jute String Idea-ology Box Corners Idea-ology Curio Knobs Prima Clock Parts Idea-ology Long Fasteners Distress Marker - Picket Fence Jet Black Archival Ink Archival Ink - Potting Soil Archival Ink - Aquamarine Ranger Archival Ink - Orange Blossom Tarnished Brass Distress Paint Distress Paint - Black Soot Brushed Pewter Distress Paint Inkssentials Blending Tool Cutter Bee Scissors Vagabond

InLinkz.com

Have a great, creative weekend! I'm off to see how I can turn this month's tag from Tim Holtz into an ATB - wish me luck! :) To learn more about ATB's, you can visit The Artists on the Block blog. You'll find lots of cool ideas there too!